armistice

1. (countable, military) A (short) cessation of combat.Examples: "135. An armistice is the cessation of active hostilities for a period agreed upon between belligerents. It must be agreed upon in writing, and duly ratified by the highest authorities of the contending parties. 136. If an armistice be declared, without conditions, it extends no further than to require a total cessation of hostilities, along the front of both belligerents."; "It has also become routine to interrupt wars in more lasting fashion by imposing armistices. Again, unless directly followed by successful peace negotiations, armistices perpetuate the state of war indefinitely because they shield the weaker side from the consequences of refusing the concessions needed for peace. […] Armistices in themselves are not way stations to peace but rather frozen wars."Synonyms: ceasefire, trucecountable

2. (countable, military) A formal agreement, especially between nations, to end combat.Examples: "The Fifth Volume of this Collection makes its appearance at the moſt eventful period of the war—it includes, therefore, matter of the higheſt importance, and contains all the official documents reſpecting the late Negotiation—the war between this country and Spain, the progreſs of the French arms in Italy and Germany—the armiſtices and treaties concluded with the German and Italian powers— […]"; "The government of Great-Britain lost no time after the war was known, in making to our cabinet proposals for an armistice. Those proposals were like all propositions between equal states, perfectly reciprocal. They require of us to suspend hostilities only, in consideration of suspending hostilities on their part. They are silent as to impressments—and would any person inquire why? It may be answered, that impressments had never been presented to Great-Britain as in themselves the cause of war— […]"; "Twice during the last quarter of a century the same railway vehicle has provided the scene of the signature of an armistice between Germany and France, and this famous vehicle is at present in Berlin, where it was placed on public exhibition in the Lustgarten on March 23."countable